ASP, 6 policemen arrested in Polonnaruwa

Seven Sri Lanka police officers including an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) who attempted to dig out hidden treasure in a Buddhist temple in Thimbulaagala in Polonnaruwa district were arrested at a police check post Monday night in Mannampiddi. The gang had threatened the Buddhist priest of the temple and dug for the treasure but a local politician had rung the temple bell. People rushing to the temple saw the gang escaping in two vehicles without registration number plates and informed the police, sources in Batticaloa said. The arrested police officers are detained in Polonnaruwa police station for further investigation.

The arrested police officers are attached to Vaakarai police station in Batticaloa district.

The gang had managed to dig three feet deep when the local politician rang the bell alerting people of the area.

Preliminary inquiries revealed that the vehicles used by the gang belong to Vaakarai police station.

Meanwhile, it is alleged that digging for treasures in Vaakarai and Thaanthaa Malai have been carried out with the assistance of Sri Lanka police.